Monday, January 28, 2008

A Fantastic morning feeling

It is 11:00 AM

I just left the Los Angeles Theatre, where, as I type, the "Bring Back Broadway" conference is taking place.

I ran over here to Chrysalis to take pictures. People did not recognize me as I had on a suit. I wanted to be the first too post pictures of the conference to my readers. I am unable to do so because of the technical difficulities that I am experiencing.

--

However there is something more important to share. It is the response and encouragement of people on Skid Row when they saw me wearing a suit. People who knew me were yelling across the street. "go get em , Walter"."Represent us well, Walter". "Dam, Melton you are on your way."

They were all routing for me. They did not know where I was going or what I was going to do but the dress signaled to them that I was on my way. It did a lot for me. It confirmed to me that people on Skid Row pull for eachother.

I then turned up sixth st. People who DID NOT know me were yelling at me.

"Do IT". "that's right." "You are on the right path." "sho you right".

IT did alot for me to receive that support. It did alot for them to see me on the move. I could see it in the eyes of people. They had hope. I put a little fuel in their "fighting" tank. They put fuel in mine. I will comment further later in the day. As for now, it was clear that Skid Row and the people of Skid Row were of the same spirit. Broadway is coming back. The people of Skid Row let me know that I was on my way back. Thank you.

Feed It!

About Me

Living in downtown Los Angeles on a new adventure,
I landed on Skid Row in the month of February,2007, shell shocked and traumatized by the events of the previous months.
I entered a world full of many contrasts. Kind, caring supportive individuals. Cruel, blood sucking predators. Men and women who walk the streets with courageous dignity and those whose job it is to strip them of that dignity every day. A place of quaint warmth and beauty, and at the same time a harsh, cold and vicious jungle. I have experienced the toughest streets of Philadelphia and Harlem, New York as well as the shanty towns and favelas of Brazil. Yet nothing compares to what you feel when you are in Skid Row. Social Scientists from around the world come here to study it. Every social illness has its place in Skid Row. They come to learn about its effect on people. They leave learning more about themselves- their prejudices and the fear of what they do not know. There is nothing like it. This journal is about my experiences at the University of Skid Row.